South Africa’s leading bookmakers Hollywood led the field and opened the ante-post market for the 2018 Sun Met within hours of the first entries being published last Wednesday.
The race, on 27 January 2018, will be run for the first time in its long history at pure weight-for-age terms.
Edict Of Nantes – on target for a big run
The inaugural Sun Met was won by Whisky Baron and the 2018 renewal has attracted a high quality entry, including dual SA Horse Of The Year, Legal Eagle, who beat fellow Met contenders Edict Of Nantes and Captain America in an impressive Cape Summer opener in Saturday’s Gr2 Green Point Stakes.
The traditional stepping stone has had an impact on the opening betting , but Hollywood spokesman Dermot O’Connell said that the shrewd punters had climbed in on the opening call of 7/1 about Investec Derby and Daily News 2000 winner Edict Of Nantest last week already.
“That was some good early value and it was immediately snapped up – as was the 11/2 and Edict Of Nantes shortened to 4/1 before the running of the Green Point, where he was strongly supported to beat Legal Eagle. His cracking second in that race has seen him shorten to 33/10.”
O’Connell added that dual SA Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle proved his well-being in the Green Point and remains the best weighted horse in the Sun Met – he has been trimmed from 5/2 to 22/10.
Horizon – was well beaten in Daily News
“I have noted that African Night Sky has found support from 14/1 into 12/1, while Gold Standard has eased from 10/1 out to 12/1 following his prep run in the Green Point. Marinaresco failed to shine in the Merchants and has eased from an opening call of 11/2 to 8/1 as stable companion Horizon, who opened at 25/1, has attracted strong support and is currently trading at 14/1.”
Find the Hollywood Sun Met betting on www.hollywoodbets.net
Here Are Your Sun Met – Key Dates:
First Supplementary Entries Close 11h00 on Tuesday 12 December 2017
Final Supplementary Entries Close 11h00 on Monday 8 January 2018
Weights published on Monday 8 January 2018
Final Declarations due by 11h00 on Monday 15 January 2018
